The Amazing Rhythm Aces: Classic Country Rock

The Amazing Rhythm Aces: The Sophisticated Soul of Southern Country Rock 

The Amazing Rhythm Aces stand as one of the most musically accomplished and distinctively soulful groups to emerge from the 1970s Southern rock boom. Eschewing the bombastic, dual-guitar jamming common to many of their regional contemporaries, this tight-knit outfit specialized in a laid-back, highly sophisticated blend of country, blue-eyed soul, Memphis rhythm and blues, and traditional roots music. Driven by exceptional songwriting craftsmanship and a warm, conversational vocal delivery, they brought a wry, literary storytelling perspective to the airwaves. Their unique ability to inject deep, authentic blues grooves into country frameworks earned them immense critical acclaim and cross-genre chart success.

 

The Amazing Rhythm Aces were one of the finest country-rock bands of the Seventies. The band played its country rock with a large dose of the blues and, under the leadership of singer/guitarist Russell Smith, scored a hit with “Third Rate Romance” in 1975. That song can be found on the band’s excellent debut album, "Stacked Deck" (1975). 

The band’s sophomore album, "Too Stuffed to Jump" (1976), was another fine effort, with the track "The End is Not in Sight" as the album’s highlight. 

Technical Catalog Spotlight: Stacked Deck (1975)

 

This brilliant debut studio album stands as a definitive high-water mark for mid-seventies alternative country-rock. Recorded at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, the tracking effortlessly captures a warm, organic rhythm section groove accented by tasteful keyboard and dobro lines. The album is anchored by its cynical, career-defining crossover smash hit, showcasing the group's uncanny ability to wrap gritty, down-on-their-luck narratives inside incredibly infectious, radio-friendly melodic hooks. 

• Released: 1975 
• Label: ABC Records 
• Producer: Barry Burton 
• Core Personnel: Russell Smith (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Barry Burton (Acoustic Guitar, Dobro), Billy Earheart (Keyboards), Jeff Davis (Bass), Butch McDade (Drums) 
• Key Tracks: Third Rate Romance, Amazing Grace Used to Be Her Favorite Song, Emma-Jean 

Technical Catalog Spotlight: Too Stuffed to Jump (1976) 

Building perfectly on the commercial success of their debut, the band's sophomore long-playing record highlights a tighter, even more confident ensemble interplay. The production continues to lean heavily into syncopated, R&B-inflected rhythms and pristine, layered vocal harmonies that separate them from standard country acts. The album holds massive historical importance for containing an acclaimed masterpiece of melodic songwriting that eventually earned the group a prestigious Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Group. 

• Released: 1976 
• Label: ABC Records 
• Producer: Barry Burton 
• Core Personnel: Russell Smith (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Barry Burton (Guitar), Billy Earheart (Piano, Organ), Jeff Davis (Bass), Butch McDade (Drums) 
• Key Tracks: The End Is Not in Sight (The Cowboy Tune), If I Just Keep On Dreaming, Typical American Boy 

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